FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Report: Scotland's Biggest Marathon - Edinburgh Marathon
SCOTLAND'S biggest running event was at the heart of a spectacular sporting
weekend with more than 29,000 people taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon
Festival.
In glorious sunshine, runners from more than 100 countries set off from the
city centre today (Sunday, May 26) to take on the world's fastest marathon
course.
They included super-fit Kenny Heney who won an ambitious race against time
to complete all FOUR adult races and a total of 48 miles during the two-day
running festival.
The 37-year-old Scot who lives in Dubai ran the half marathon today in one
hour and 24 minutes then jumped on a Harley Davidson motorbike back in to
the city centre to join the crowds in the nick of time and run the full
marathon. Kenny, who yesterday (Saturday, May 25) also completed the EMF
10K in 39 minutes five minutes and the 5K in 19 minutes 21 seconds, was
exhausted but elated when he finally crossed the finish of the full
marathon after three hours and 57 seconds.
Kenny said: "It's an unbelievable feeling to finish. I've had the most
amazing day and I loved every minute of my journey on the Harley Davidson
bike back in to Edinburgh. The last 10 miles of the marathon was tough but
I knew it would be. None of this would have been possible without my family
who were a perfect support team. It was great to see my sister Katy at the
finish line. I know it's time to celebrate now but not before a quick
sleep."
Trent Morrow, 39, from Sydney, Australia, crossed the line in 4:14:44 - as
part of his superhero mission to set a world record for the most marathons
run in a calendar year. Trent, who has been dubbed 'Marathon Man', is
aiming to complete 160 marathons in 2013. He has already completed more
than 50 and aims to average a minimum of three marathons a week for the
rest of the year.
Trent said: "In the last five days I've run marathons in New England, US
and Springfield Massachetts and now I'm here in Edinburgh.
"It's not all about me, and not about breaking records as I'm running in
support to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support. I lost my mum to bowel
cancer 20 years ago this August so it's close to my heart."
The overall winner and first to the finish of the marathon at Musselburgh
in East Lothian was Tola Lema from Ethiopia, who finished in just 2 hours,
15 minutes and 32 seconds - only six seconds off the course record still
held by Zachary Kihara of Kenya from 2005.
Risper Kimaiyo from Kenya was the first woman home in the marathon. The
33-year-old, who is in Scotland for the first time, finished the race in
two hours and 35 minutes. Avril Mason, a doctor at the Yorkhill Children's
hospital in Glasgow, was the first Scottish woman home. The 39-year-old
crossed the line in 2:55:02 while the first Scottish man home was Will
Wright in 2:40:53.
Organisers provided 1,085 bottles of Strathmore water along the 26.2 mile
route and another 29,000 at the finish.
Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon Festival director, said: "We are proud
that the Edinburgh Marathon Festival is the most inclusive festival of
running in the UK.
"From the world's best elites through to the first time marathon runner, to
youngsters standing in the start pen for the first time in their lives, we
welcome them all. Each of these people are changing their lives and many
are changing the lives of others too through raising vital funds for
charity."
More than 1,500 runners from the Edinburgh Marathon Festival official
charity Macmillan Cancer Support took part and together with hundreds of
other charities, the organiser of the 11th marathon are hoping to raise
more than £4.5 million.
Ryan Beattie was the first Scot in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival race
history to win the half marathon. It's the first race the 26-year-old
builder from Falkirk has ever won and he completed it in one hour and nine
minutes. He plans to celebrate with his fiancée Natalia Sharpe who also
completed the half marathon today.
Ryan said: "We're getting married next May so this win today is a brilliant
early wedding present."
Police officer Dianne Lauder, 36, from the Hawick Gala Harriers was the
first woman across the line at the half marathon, racing to the finish in
one hour 24 and 55 minutes.
A team of four from Askern District AC won the marathon relay race while
the Howgill Harriers finished second and the Ramsey Road Runners were
third.
ENTRIES open for the 2014 Edinburgh Marathon Festival on Monday May 27 with
an early bird discount of 2013 prices for everyone who registers before
June 2 at www.edinburgh-marathon.com
The Edinburgh Marathon sold out 2008-2013 and the half marathon sold out
for the first year in 2013.
2013 EMF Marathon
RESULTS
Top 10
1 Tora Lema 2:15:32
2 John Kales 2:17:30
3 Nourdine Jalal 2:18:38
4 Andi Jones 2:19:29
5 Japhet Koech 2:21:51
6 Peter Tucker 2:28:25
7 David Kirkland 2:29:19
8 Stuart Spencer 2:30:29
9 Michael Aldridge 2:30:51
10 Fabian Downs 2:34:36
Top women
1 Risper Kimaiyo 2:25:58
2 Jane Khan 2:43:56
3 Julie Briscoe 2:45:12
Top Scots men
1 Will Wright 2:40:53
2 Drew Lang 2:42:01
3 David Mclaughlin 2:48:45
Top Scots women
1 Avril Mason 2:55:02
2 Charlotte Black 3:06:30
3 Roslyn Eadie 3:09:45
Relay race
1 Askern District AC
2 Howgill Harriers
3 Ramsey Road Runner
4 Corstorphine AAC
2013 EMF Half Marathon
Top 10 Men
1 Ryan Beattie 1:09:33
2 James Bulman 1:11:21
3 Russell Maddams 1:12:01
4 James Mulvany 1:12:09
5 Matt Taylor 1:13:19
6 John French 1:13:25
7 James Chettle 1:13:38
8 John Clifford 1:13:43
9 Richard Simkiss 1:13:56
10 Barry Paterson 1:14:15
Top 10 Women
1 Dianne Lauder 1:24:55
2 Amy Aronson 1:25:19
3 Mary Kelly 1:25:49
4 Fiona Rudkin 1:25:49
5 Victoria Carter 1:27:07
6 Erin Whittle 1:27:53
7 Linda Hardy 1:28:13
8 Julie Maiko 1:28:18
9 Kirsty Hamilton 1:29:02
10 Sarah Libnitz 1:29:09
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